Is a salary of $60,000 a year a good amount to make? What can you afford with this?

Question

I am looking to start a career as a Dental Hygienist. After researching the profession, I noticed that average salary is around 60 K a year. Most of the jobs that I have worked at paid around 25 K a year, so I was wondering just how much that salary would be able to provide for me or for a family (if I decided to have one in the future). At the moment, my credit is poor... do you think that if I had a salary of that amount that I would be get approved for loans or a mortgage? I would like to hear some input for those people that make around this amount just to see if they are satisfied... Also, if their are any dental hygienists out there who would like to share any info or opinions that would be much appreciated! Thank you all!!! :)

Answer 1

60K is a decent living for sure. is that the starting/entry level pay?

lets put it this way, i know people in college who majored to be physicians assistants (which is the closest to a doctor you can be without being a doctor) and they start out making around that much money right out of 5 years of college.

most people only start out making 30-40 thousand a year with a bachelors degree... so 60,000 is definately a good living and you could definately live comfortably on your own with that living. if you combined that with another persons income who made around the same, or even less, i think you would still be able to live quite comfortably. i can't give any advice on what it takes to support a family with kids though.

Answer 2

I've never known of a dental hygienist who makes $60k.

Answer 3

The median household income in the US is somewhere between $40,000 and $50,000.  That mean 50% of all US households earn less than that amount.  If you can't live comfortably on $60,000, you need to redefine comfortably.

Answer 4

You can buy all the drugs you want with that kinda money.  

Answer 5

Hi Happy Girl,  I would be thrilled with it.  We have been living on that amount or less as a family for the last 20 years, and all our needs are met.  That also means we have a small home paid for now and cars paid for and no debt.  We have savings and give and have paid for private grade schools, but it has taken being fugal, living on a budget, staying within our means.  That is the pay for the average construction worker who works hard and heavy in all kinds of weather, so indoors in air conditioning is better.  It is definitely better than 25K.  And you know what that affords.  Dave Ramsey has a book called Financial Peace which is very helpful and I follow it's plan to get debt free and have an emergency fund and invest wisely, etc.    

Answer 6

That will give you about $5000/month before taxes. I think the great majority of the United States would be happy with that kind of income, especially with you being single w/o a family to take care of! But it all really depends on where you live and what kind of lifestyle you hope to have to be "satisfied".

Answer 7

Thats about $1000 a week. you figure it out.

Answer 8

Dental Hygienist is a great career, concidering it anly takes 2 years of school, the top paid 2 citys in the US is washington dc, and beverly hills, DC pays an average salary of $75,000 and the LA area pays between $50-$60 an hour, if you work full time you can earn $100,000 and up. as far as your credit, i would req that you either pay off your debts or file for bankruptcy. fileing for chapter 13 not 11 will erase all your debt. and will only cost you about $1200 total. then when you finsish school, not only will you have no debts but you will not have bad credit. you will have what is known as no credit. and no credit is better then bad credit. espesialy if your earning $60-$100,000 a year. the bankruptcy takes about 4 months to be final. then you go and get your self a sears or best buy card. or a credit card with a low credit line. maybe $500. (dont worry, once your bankruptcy is final you will get 100s of credit card offers in the mail, becuz they all know that you have no debts and that you will be aproved) only get one! card. now you must use your card for small things like, gas, dinner, or a purchase like a tv or something, when you get your statement in the mail, dont ever pay it in full!!! if it asks for $15 a month then pay $15 a month. this is what builds credit. NEVER EVER MISS a payment or pay late. this is what causes bad credit. you will notice that by doing this after about 3 months the credit card compony will raise your limit from $500 to $700 and they will continue to raise it for life. After a few years you will not only have a $25,000 credit card but you will also have good credit. most people who had credit scores of 350 or lower and filed for bankruptcy got a score of 750 or higher in less then 2 years. think about it. you could do this now, and by the time you finsish school you will have great credit as well as a great career. then it will be easy for you to get the best interest rates on loans. since the banks are only interested in how much you back verses how much you owe, and if your debt free then you dont pose a risk, therefore your interest will be vary low if anything at all. trust me it works. becuz i did it myself, im a high school drop out that got a GED at age 22, moved to LA from VA destroyed my credit, i couldnt even rent an apartment in my name, or even rent a movie cuz my credit was so bad, i bankrupted became a dental hygieinist, and moved back to VA where i work in DC earning over $80,000 a year, i was able to purchase a $900,000 home, with a low interest rate, i even married a dental hygieinist, and we live the high life. and guess what? im only 29 years old.

Answer 9

60K is a good livable salary - remember your take-home pay will be closer to 30K.  You will be able to afford a car payment, pay your bills, a average apartment in a reasonably safe neighborhood, and maybe start on a mortgage.  Now, with poor credit it's unlikely you can get loans or mortgages without paying ridiculously high rates or getting a co-signer.  The better thing to do on that score would be to take the well-paying job at 60K, stay in a modest apartment and spend very little money for a couple (3-4 years), use only one credit card that you pay off every month for that entire time, and then after 4 or so years apply for a mortgage.  Your credit will look a lot better by then.

Answer 10

Sixty grand is a small salary if you live in Modesto, California - but it's a fortune if you live in Enterprise, Alabama.

You can afford to purchase a nice home if you can get someone to lend you the money for it.

First, though, get good at being a hygienist and get a steady job doing it.

Good luck.

-Stuart

Answer 11

yes of course it is especially if you know that it is a secure steady job. You should be able to afford a house no prob but rule of thumb put the least amount of money down. Use their money not yours.

Answer 12

depends greatly upon where you live.  i believe the rule of thumb is 1/3 your gross pay after recurring debts (eg: car payments) should go toward housing.

Answer 13

you could buy me a dog